JP2005339024A - Content distribution system, server device, content transmitting device, content receiving device and content distribution method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To distribute a relevant content to a specific content receiving device from a previously designated content transmitting device. <P>SOLUTION: A data file update and distribution center 4 creates content identification information for identifying a content to be distributed, transmitter information for identifying a content transmitting device which should distribute the content, and distribution management information in which discrimination information for identifying a content receiving device for which the distribution of the content is permitted is specified. By each content transmitting device identified by the transmitter information registered in the distribution management information, distribution permission information in which the content identification information and the discrimination information are associated and a content body to be distributed are distributed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a content distribution system that distributes content, a server device, a content transmission device, a content reception device, and a content distribution method that constitute the content distribution system. Specifically, the content can be distributed from a content transmission device designated in advance to a specific content reception device.

  In order to realize content distribution in a highly public place such as a street, since it is used by an unspecified number of users, it is required to distribute the content with a simple operation and in a short time.

In a method using an electric cable as a content transmission means, a large volume of content cannot be delivered in a short time. In view of this, a content distribution system using optical communication has been proposed. In a method using optical communication as a content transmission means, first, the use of an optical fiber cable can be considered. However, the connector of the optical fiber cable has low durability against repeated attachment and detachment, and is not suitable for a system used by an unspecified number of users.

  For this reason, a system that enables optical communication without contact has also been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2003-258737 A

  Large-capacity content can be distributed by performing communication between the content distribution side and the reception side by optical communication. However, since the storage capacity of content on the distribution side is limited, a function for managing the content to be distributed becomes necessary when the content handled increases.

  In particular, in a system used by an unspecified number of users, it is necessary to distribute different contents, so a function for managing the contents to be distributed is necessary.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and a content distribution system capable of distributing a corresponding content from a predetermined content transmission device to a specific content reception device, and the content distribution system are configured. An object of the present invention is to provide a server device, a content transmission device, a content reception device, and a content distribution method.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a content distribution system according to the present invention distributes content from a server device to a plurality of content transmission devices, and communicates between each content transmission device and the content reception device to distribute the content. In the distribution system, the server device authorizes the distribution of the content specifying information specifying the content to be distributed, the transmitter information specifying the content transmitting device to which the content is to be distributed, and the corresponding content. At least the identification information for identifying the content receiving device is registered to create distribution management information, and at least the content specifying information and the identification information are associated with each content transmitting device specified by the transmitter information registered in the distribution management information. Distribution license information and distribution that distributes the content itself to be distributed Those having a management unit.

  In the content distribution system according to the present invention, the server device includes content specifying information for specifying the content to be distributed, transmitter information for specifying the content transmitting device to which the content is to be distributed, and content for which distribution of the content is permitted. In response to registration of identification information for identifying the receiving device, distribution management information is created.

  The server device creates distribution permission information that associates the content identification information with the identification information for each content transmission device specified by the transmitter information registered in the distribution management information, and transmits the corresponding content together with the content body to be distributed. Deliver to the device.

  Further, the content distribution system according to the present invention is a content distribution system that communicates between a content transmission device and a content reception device and distributes content, wherein the content transmission device includes content specifying information that specifies content to be distributed; Distribution permission information associated with at least identification information for specifying a content receiving device that permits distribution of the corresponding content is distributed and registered, and a content download request is issued from the content receiving device specified by the distribution permission information. When received, the content is distributed.

  In the content distribution system according to the present invention, the content transmission apparatus registers the distribution permission information, so that the content specifying information for specifying the content to be distributed and the identification information for specifying the content receiving apparatus for permitting the distribution of the corresponding content Recognize.

  When a content download request is received from the content receiving device, it is determined whether the content receiving device is permitted to distribute the content. Then, the corresponding content is distributed to the content receiving device that is permitted to distribute the content.

  The server device according to the present invention specifies content specifying information for specifying content to be distributed specified in advance and a content transmitting device to which the corresponding content is to be distributed in a server device that distributes content to a plurality of content transmission devices. For each content transmission device identified by the transmitter information registered in the distribution management information by creating at least the transmitter information and the identification information for identifying the content receiving device that permits the distribution of the corresponding content to create the distribution management information In addition, at least distribution permission information in which content specifying information and identification information are associated with each other, and a distribution management means for distributing a content main body to be distributed.

  The server device according to the present invention specifies content specifying information for specifying content to be distributed, transmitter information for specifying a content transmitting device to which the content is to be distributed, and a content receiving device that permits distribution of the content. In response to registration of identification information, distribution management information is created.

  Then, for each content transmission device specified by the transmitter information registered in the distribution management information, distribution permission information in which the content specification information and the identification information are associated is created, and the content main body to be distributed is sent to the corresponding content transmission device. To deliver.

  The content transmitting apparatus according to the present invention specifies content specifying information for specifying content to be distributed and a content receiving apparatus that permits distribution of the content in the content transmitting apparatus that communicates with the content receiving apparatus and distributes the content. When the distribution permission information associated with at least the identification information is distributed and registered, and the content download request is received from the content receiving device specified by the distribution permission information, the corresponding content is distributed.

  The content transmission apparatus according to the present invention recognizes the content specifying information for specifying the content to be distributed and the identification information for specifying the content receiving apparatus for permitting the distribution of the content by registering the distribution permission information. Yes.

  When a content download request is received from the content receiving device, it is determined whether the content receiving device is permitted to distribute the content. Then, the corresponding content is distributed to the content receiving device that is permitted to distribute the content.

  The content receiving apparatus according to the present invention is a content receiving apparatus that communicates with the content transmitting apparatus and receives the content, and notifies the content transmitting apparatus of identification information that identifies the own device as a content download request.

  The content receiving apparatus according to the present invention notifies the content transmitting apparatus of identification information for identifying the own device as a download request for specific content.

  A content distribution method according to the present invention is a content distribution method in which content is distributed from a server device to a plurality of content transmission devices, and communication is performed between each content transmission device and a content reception device. At least at least content specifying information for specifying content to be distributed, transmitter information for specifying a content transmitting device to which the content is to be distributed, and identification information for specifying a content receiving device that is permitted to distribute the content Distribution permission information that associates at least content identification information with identification information, and content to be distributed, for each content transmission device that is registered to create distribution management information and is identified by transmitter information registered in the distribution management information The main body is distributed.

  In the content distribution method according to the present invention, in the server device, content specifying information for specifying the content to be distributed, transmitter information for specifying the content transmitting device to which the content is to be distributed, and content for which distribution of the content is permitted Distribution management information is created in response to registration of identification information that identifies a receiving device.

  Then, for each content transmitting device specified by the transmitter information registered in the distribution management information, distribution permission information in which the content specifying information and the identification information are associated is created, and the content main body to be distributed is sent to the corresponding content transmitting device. It will be delivered.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, a content can be distributed with respect to the content transmission apparatus which requested | required the distribution of content among several content transmission apparatuses. Then, the corresponding content can be distributed from the designated content transmission device to the specific content reception device.

  Thereby, it is not necessary to distribute the same content to all of the plurality of content transmission devices, and transmission costs can be suppressed.

  In addition, since the content provider can control the content transmission device that distributes the content, the distribution of content between the server device and the content transmission device and between the content transmission device and the content reception device can be optimized. .

  In addition, since the content receiving side can specify the desired content transmitting apparatus and receive the content download, the convenience is improved.

  Further, in the content transmission apparatus according to the present invention, it is only necessary to store content whose distribution destination is determined. Therefore, it is not necessary to store content whose distribution destination is not determined, and the content to be stored can be reduced. As a result, even if the content to be handled is a data file with a large capacity, the cost can be reduced with a configuration in which the capacity of the storage device is suppressed.

  Furthermore, since the content receiving apparatus according to the present invention makes a download request using its own identification number, it is not necessary to input information for specifying content when receiving content distribution, and the operation is easy. You can receive content delivery in time.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a content distribution system, a server device, a content transmission device, a content reception device, and a content distribution method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<Outline of content distribution system>
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of a content distribution system according to the present embodiment. The content distribution system 1 according to the present embodiment is configured to distribute content such as video and music to a mobile receiving terminal 2 owned by a user using a terminal transmitter 3 installed on a street or the like.

  In order to deliver the designated content to the specific mobile receiving terminal 2 by the specific end transmitter 3, the user of the mobile receiving terminal 2 specifies in advance which end transmitter 3 the user wants to receive the desired content. The corresponding end transmitter 3 enables the designated content to be distributed to the specific mobile receiving terminal 2.

  For this reason, the data file update distribution center 4 that distributes the content to the terminal transmitter 3 distributes the corresponding content to the terminal transmitter 3 designated by the user or the like.

  The portable receiving terminal 2 and the terminal transmitter 3 transmit / receive content data files by optical communication or wireless communication, for example. Here, communication from the terminal transmitter 3 to the portable receiver terminal 2 is called downlink, and communication from the portable receiver 2 to the terminal transmitter 3 is called uplink.

<Specific configuration example of content distribution system>
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the content distribution system 1A according to the first embodiment. First, specific configuration examples of the terminal transmitter 3A and the portable reception terminal 2A will be described.

  Here, in this example, the downlink channel is realized by optical communication by spatial transmission, and the uplink channel is realized by wireless communication. In this way, by making the downlink channel and the uplink channel asymmetric, the portable receiver terminal 2A and the terminal transmitter 3A can be detachable using an optical coupling means with a simple configuration, and the terminal transmitter The content can be distributed from 3A to the portable receiving terminal 2A by high-speed communication.

  To explain from the configuration of the terminal transmitter 3A, the terminal transmitter 3A includes a light emitting unit 11, a cache memory 12, a bridge IC 13, and a serializer 14. The light emitting unit 11 is an example of a downlink transmission device and constitutes an optical communication unit. The light emitting unit 11 includes a laser diode 15 as light emitting means, converts an electrical signal into an optical signal, and outputs the optical signal.

  The cache memory 12 is an example of a so-called high-speed storage device, is constituted by a RAM or the like, and stores a data file of content output from the laser diode 15.

  The bridge IC 13 reads the data file from the cache memory 12. In addition, the data file is written in the cache memory 12.

  The serializer 14 converts the data file read from the cache memory 12 by the bridge IC 13 from parallel data to serial data and sends the data file to the laser diode 15.

  The terminal transmitter 3A includes a main storage device 16, a system controller 17, a memory 18, and an external I / O 19. The main storage device 16 is an example of a so-called low-speed storage device, and is composed of, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD) and stores data files to be stored in the cache memory 12.

  The system controller 17 is composed of a CPU or the like, and determines whether or not the mobile receiving terminal 2A that requested the download is permitted to be distributed and outputs a predetermined data file stored in the cache memory 12 from the laser diode 15 or the like. Take control.

  The memory 18 includes a RAM and a ROM, and stores programs executed by the system controller 17. The external I / O 19 is an example of input / output means, and is a display, for example.

  Furthermore, the terminal transmitter 3A includes a wireless communication unit 20 and a network communication unit 21. The wireless communication unit 20 is an example of an uplink receiving device and constitutes wireless communication means. Since the wireless communication unit 20 communicates with the mobile receiving terminal 2A, it is only necessary to be able to perform near field communication. For example, use of Bluetooth or IEEE802.11 is conceivable. Note that since Bluetooth and IEEE 802.11 do not interfere, two communication functions may be provided.

  The network communication unit 21 is connected to the data file update distribution center 4 via, for example, the Internet or a dedicated line, and communicates with the data file update distribution center 4.

  The terminal transmitter 3 </ b> A includes a detection switch 22 and an indicator 24. The detection switch 22 is an example of a mounting detection unit, and is configured by, for example, an optical sensor having a pair of light emitting / receiving elements. The detection switch 22 only needs to detect the attachment of the mobile reception terminal 2A, and does not need to detect whether communication with the mobile reception terminal 2A can be performed.

  The indicator 24 is an example of a notification means, and is composed of a lamp such as a light emitting diode, for example. When there is a content acquisition request from the mobile receiving terminal 2A of any user, the indicator 24 notifies whether or not the distribution is permitted.

  If the indicator 24 can display two states, the user can be notified that the distribution is permitted and the distribution is not permitted. For example, if the indicator 24 is a single lamp of a single color, two states can be represented by lighting and blinking. If the indicator 24 is two lamps having different emission colors or one lamp capable of emitting two colors, the two states can be represented by the difference in the emission colors.

  When a display is provided as the external I / O 19, the presence / absence of distribution permission may be displayed on the display. In this case, the display becomes a notification means.

  Next, the configuration of the mobile receiving terminal 2A will be described. The mobile receiving terminal 2 </ b> A includes a light receiving unit 25, a cache memory 26, a bridge IC 27, and a deserializer 28. The light receiving unit 25 is an example of a downlink receiving device, and is paired with the light emitting unit 11 to constitute an optical communication unit. The light receiving unit 25 includes a photodetector 29 as a light receiving means, and converts the received optical signal into an electrical signal.

  The cache memory 26 is an example of a high-speed storage device, is configured with a RAM or the like, and stores a data file received from the terminal transmitter 3A. The bridge IC 27 writes the data file to the cache memory 26. Further, the data file is read from the cache memory 26.

  The deserializer 28 converts the data file converted into the electrical signal by the photo detector 29 from serial data to parallel data and sends the data file to the bridge IC 27.

  The mobile receiving terminal 2A includes a system controller 30, a memory 31, and an external I / O 32. The system controller 30 is composed of a CPU or the like, and controls the storage of the data file received by the photodetector 29 in the cache memory 26, the reading of the data file stored in the cache memory 26, and the like. The memory 31 includes a RAM and a ROM, and stores programs executed by the system controller 30. The external I / O 32 is an example of input / output means, and is a display, for example.

  Further, the portable receiving terminal 2 </ b> A includes a laser sensor 33 and an indicator 34. The laser sensor 33 is an example of a light detection unit, and detects whether or not the photodetector 29 has received laser light. The indicator 34 is an example of a notification means, and is composed of a lamp such as a light emitting diode, for example, and notifies whether or not the distribution of the device itself is permitted.

  Here, if the indicator 34 can also display two states, the user can be notified of the presence or absence of distribution permission. For example, if the indicator 34 is a single monochrome lamp, two states can be represented by lighting and blinking. Further, if the indicator 34 is two lamps having different emission colors or one lamp capable of emitting two colors, the two states can be represented by the difference in the emission colors.

  When a display is provided as the external I / O 32, the presence / absence of distribution permission may be displayed on the display. In this case, the display becomes a notification means.

  The mobile receiving terminal 2 </ b> A includes a wireless communication unit 35. The wireless communication unit 35 is an example of an uplink transmission device, and forms a wireless communication unit in a pair with the wireless communication unit 20 of the terminal transmitter 3A. The wireless communication unit 35 only needs to have the same communication function as that of the wireless communication unit 20. For example, the use of Bluetooth or IEEE802.11 can be considered. Note that since Bluetooth and IEEE 802.11 do not interfere, two communication functions may be provided.

  The mobile reception terminal 2A may include a main storage device 36. The main storage device 36 is an example of a low-speed storage device, is configured with a hard disk drive device or the like, and stores data files stored in the cache memory 26.

  The main storage device 36 has a larger capacity than the cache memory 26, and the content data file distributed from the terminal transmitter 3 </ b> A and stored in the cache memory 26 is moved to the main storage device 36 and stored therein. Content can be saved with 2A.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the data file update distribution center 4A according to the first embodiment. Next, a specific configuration example of the data file update distribution center 4A will be described.

  The data file update distribution center 4A is an example of a server device, and includes a main storage device 37, a system controller 38, a memory 39, and an external I / O 41. The main storage device 37 is composed of, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD) or the like, and stores a data file to be distributed to each terminal transmitter 3A.

  The system controller 38 is composed of a CPU or the like, and when distributing content to the terminal transmitter 3A, a specific triple management function 38a as a distribution management means, which is a function realized by executing a program, specifies a specific Create distribution management information for enabling the specified content to be distributed to the mobile terminal 2A by the specified terminal transmitter 3A, and distribute it to the predetermined terminal transmitter 3A together with the content data file. Take control.

  The memory 39 includes a RAM and a ROM, and stores programs executed by the system controller 38. The external I / O 41 is an example of input / output means, such as a display or a keyboard.

  Further, the data file update distribution center 4A includes a network communication unit 42. The network communication unit 42 is connected to each terminal transmitter 3A via, for example, the Internet or a dedicated line, and communicates with each terminal transmitter 3A.

  FIG. 4 is an external perspective view showing a configuration example of the mobile reception terminal, FIG. 4A shows the configuration of the front side of the mobile reception terminal 2A, and FIG. 2B shows the configuration of the back side of the mobile reception terminal 2A. Show.

  The mobile receiving terminal 2A includes a display 43 as an example of the external I / O 32 shown in FIG. In addition, an operation unit 44 is provided for specifying content to be reproduced on the display 43. Further, the portable receiving terminal 2A includes the indicator 34 described with reference to FIG. In this example, the indicator 34 is composed of two lamps. The mobile receiving terminal 2A includes a light receiving unit 25 on the back surface of the housing.

  FIG. 5 is an external perspective view showing a configuration example of the terminal transmitter 3A, FIG. 5 (a) shows a state of the terminal transmitter alone, and FIG. 5 (b) shows a state where the portable receiving terminal 2A is mounted.

  The terminal transmitter 3 </ b> A includes a mounting portion 45 of the portable receiving terminal 2 </ b> A on the upper surface, and the mounting portion 45 includes the light emitting unit 11. Further, a display 46 may be provided alongside the mounting unit 45 as an example of the external I / O 19 shown in FIG. When the content distributed to the mobile receiving terminal 2A includes video, the display 46 displays, for example, an outline of the content distributed to the mobile receiving terminal 2A.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, the arrangement of each part is set so that the display 46 is not hidden while the portable receiving terminal 2A is attached to the attachment part 45 of the terminal transmitter 3A.

  Further, the terminal transmitter 3A includes the detection switch 22 described in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5B, when the portable receiving terminal 2A is attached to the attaching portion 45 of the terminal transmitter 3A, the detection switch 22 can detect the presence of the portable receiving terminal 2A.

  Further, the terminal transmitter 3A includes the indicator 24 described with reference to FIG. In this example, the indicator 24 is composed of two lamps.

  When the user of the portable reception terminal 2A attaches the portable reception terminal 2A to the attachment unit 45 of the terminal transmitter 3A as shown in FIG. 5B and tries to receive content distribution as described later, The presence / absence of distribution permission or the like can be confirmed by the status of the indicator 24 of the terminal transmitter 3A or the indicator 34 of the portable receiving terminal 2A shown in FIG. 4, or the display 46 of the terminal transmitter 3A or the display 43 of the portable receiving terminal. it can.

  4 and the light emitting unit 11 of the terminal transmitter 3A shown in FIG. 5 are detachably coupled, and the laser beam emitted from the terminal transmitter 3A is received by the portable receiver terminal 2A. Receive light. Then, when the user sets the portable receiving terminal 2A on the mounting portion 45 of the terminal transmitter 3A, the optical axis on the light emitting side and the light receiving side coincide with each other if roughly aligned and set. .

  For example, a convex holder and a concave holder are provided as optical coupling means. The convex holder is composed of, for example, a hemispherical convex spherical surface, and when fitted into the concave holder, alignment is performed in a direction in which the optical axes coincide. In addition, an abutting surface that holds the convex holder and the concave holder to hold each other without being inclined is provided.

  As a result, a system is constructed in which content can be distributed to the mobile receiving terminal 2A simply by placing the mobile receiving terminal 2A on the mounting portion 45 of the terminal transmitter 3A.

<Operation example of content distribution system>
The outline of the operation of the content distribution system 1 described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 will be described. In order to identify the portable receiving terminal 2A that can download the content, the content is distributed in advance to the data file update distribution center 4A. Information for specifying the target mobile receiving terminal 2A is registered. In addition, information for identifying the terminal transmitter 3A that enables content download is registered.

  In the data file update distribution center 4A, distribution management information for managing distribution is created from information registered in advance, and distributed to a predetermined terminal transmitter 3A together with the data file of the content. The terminal transmitter 3A that has received the distribution distributes the content according to the distribution management information in response to the download request from the mobile receiving terminal 2A.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the data file update distribution center. First, processing for distributing content from the data file update distribution center 4A to the terminal transmitter 3A will be described.

  Step A1: A user of the mobile receiving terminal 2A who is a service user uses (a) a terminal of his / her mobile receiving terminal 2A to the data file update distribution center 4A using a communication means such as a telephone or the Internet. The number, (b) the transmitter number of the terminal transmitter 3A that wants to receive the content, and (c) the name of the content that you want to receive are notified.

  Further, from the service provider system to the data file update distribution center 4A, using a communication means such as the Internet, (a) the terminal number of the mobile receiving terminal 2A to which the content is to be distributed, and (b) The transmitter number of the terminal transmitter 3A to which content is to be distributed and (c) the name of the content to be distributed may be notified. Further, the mobile receiving terminal 2A to which content is to be distributed may be specified not in individual terminal numbers but in cluster units such as from what number of terminal numbers to what number.

  Here, since the information notified from the user and the information notified from the service provider side are equivalent, the following description will be made as information from the user.

  The system controller 38 of the data file update distribution center 4A registers the terminal number, the transmitter number, and the content data file name notified from the user or the like in the main storage unit 37 or the memory 39 in association with each other.

  Step A2: The system controller 38 of the data file update distribution center 4A checks whether or not it is a content update trigger for the terminal transmitter 3A. As a content update opportunity, for example, a periodic timing such as every hour or every month is taken.

  Step A3: If it is not an opportunity to update the content to the terminal transmitter 3A, the process returns to Step A1, and the system controller 38 of the data file update distribution center 4A continues pre-registration from the user. When it becomes an update opportunity, the process of step A4 is performed.

  Step A4: If it is determined in step A3 that the content transmitter to the terminal transmitter 3A has been triggered, the system controller 38 of the data file update distribution center 4A directly performs the direct configuration shown in FIG. Create a triple list.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of distribution management information. FIG. 7 (a) is a direct triple list, and FIG. 7 (b) is a distribution permission terminal number table for each terminal transmitter 3A.

  The data file update distribution center 4A directly determines which data file is distributed to which terminal transmitter 3A and each terminal transmitter 3A responds to a download request from which portable receiving terminal 2A. Control and manage with.

  For this reason, when a notification from the user is received, a direct triple list 101 shown in FIG. 7A is first created as distribution management information. The direct triple list 101 includes the terminal number (identification information) of the portable receiving terminal 2A notified from the user, the transmitter number (transmitter information) of the terminal transmitter 3A, and the content data file name (content specifying information). Are associated.

  In FIG. 7A, each row is the content of the download request notified from the user of the different mobile receiving terminal 2A. For example, the first line is a request “The user of the portable receiving terminal 2A having the terminal number MD101 wants to download the data file having the data file name DF-00845 from the terminal transmitter 3A having the transmitter number KIOSK-345”. It is registration contents.

  From this direct triple list 101, the content to be distributed is determined for each terminal transmitter 3A, and the table shown in FIG. 7B is created by associating with the portable receiving terminal 2A that permits distribution. .

  For example, in the direct triple list 101 in FIG. 7A, the terminal transmitter 3A having the transmitter number “KIOSK-345” and the terminal transmitter 3A having the transmitter number “KIOSK-358” are respectively transmitted from different users. Designated as a terminal transmitter that wants to receive content distribution.

  The system controller 38 of the data file update distribution center 4A creates a table in which the terminal number and the data file name are associated with each terminal transmitter 3A from the direct triple list 101 by using the direct triple management function 38a.

  In the example of FIG. 7, the table 102-1 is created for the terminal transmitter 3A with the transmitter number “KIOSK-345”, and the table 102-2 for the terminal transmitter 3A with the transmitter number “KIOSK-358”. Is created.

  Here, each table 102 becomes distribution permission information for permitting which contents can be distributed to which portable receiving terminal 2A by associating the terminal number with the data file name. For this reason, the table 102 is referred to as a distribution permission terminal number table.

  Step A5: The system controller 38 of the data file distribution update center 4A uses the direct triplet management function 38a from the direct triplet list 101 shown in FIG. 7 (a) to each terminal transmitter shown in FIG. 7 (b). A distribution permission terminal number table 102 for each is created and distributed to a predetermined terminal transmitter 3A together with the corresponding data file.

  The data file update distribution center 4A and each terminal transmitter 3A are connected not only by the network 5 such as the Internet but also by a network in a broad sense including distribution of hard disks carried by satellite lines and physical distribution. A data file or the like of content is distributed from 4A to a predetermined terminal transmitter 3A.

  In the direct triple list 101 of FIG. 7A, for the data file with the data file name “DF-00845”, the user of the mobile receiving terminal 2A with the terminal number “MD-101” and the terminal number “MD211”. Download request at the terminal transmitter 3A having the transmitter number “KIOSK-345”.

  In this way, when there is a download request from the same end transmitter 3A to the same data file from different users, the same data file is distributed from the data file update distribution center 4A to the corresponding end transmitter 3A multiple times. do not have to. For example, only one data file having the data file name “DF-00845” may be distributed to the terminal transmitter 3A having the transmitter number “KIOSK-345”.

  The distribution process from the terminal transmitter 3A to the portable receiving terminal 2A will be described later. For example, the data file is transferred to the portable receiving terminal 2A having the terminal number “MD-101” and the portable receiving terminal 2A having the terminal number “MD211” shown in FIG. When distributing the data file with the name “DF-00845”, the terminal transmitter 3A copies the data file of “DF-00845” to each portable receiving terminal 2A and downloads it to each portable receiving terminal 2A. can do.

  In the data file update distribution center 4A, the direct triple list 101 and the distribution permission terminal number table 102 for each terminal transmitter 3A are stored in the main storage device 37, the memory 39, or the like.

  Further, each terminal transmitter 3A receives the content data file main body from the data file update distribution center 4A and the distribution permission terminal number table 102 corresponding to its own device, and stores it in the main storage device 16 or the memory 18 or the like. To do. Then, the data file of the content to be distributed is stored in the cache memory 12 at a predetermined opportunity, and is made ready for output from the light emitting unit 11.

  FIGS. 8 and 9 are flowcharts showing an example of distribution processing from the terminal transmitter 3A to the portable receiving terminal 2A. Next, as described above, the content distributed from the data file update distribution center 4A to the predetermined terminal transmitter 3A Will be described for the delivery from the terminal transmitter 3A to the portable receiving terminal 2A.

  Step B1: The system controller 17 of the terminal transmitter 3A stops driving the laser diode 15 until the detection switch 22 detects the portable receiving terminal 2A, and sets the standby state in which the data file is not transferred.

  Step B2: The user brings the mobile receiver terminal 2A closer to the terminal transmitter 3A in order to set the terminal receiver terminal 2 on the mounting part 45 of the terminal transmitter 3A shown in FIG.

  Step B3: The system controller 17 of the terminal transmitter 3A receives the uplink from the mobile receiving terminal 2A by the wireless communication unit 20, and checks whether the connection has been established.

  Step B4: If the uplink connection from the mobile receiving terminal 2A cannot be established, the system controller 17 of the terminal transmitter 3A determines that the mobile receiving terminal 2A does not exist nearby and ends the process.

  Step B5: The system controller 17 of the terminal transmitter 3A checks whether the detection switch 22 detects the mounting of the portable receiving terminal 2A.

  Step B6: If the system controller 17 of the terminal transmitter 3A cannot detect the mounting of the mobile receiving terminal 2A, it determines that the mobile receiving terminal 2A is not mounted on the terminal transmitter 3A and ends the process.

  Step B7: When the system controller 17 of the terminal transmitter 3A can detect the mounting of the portable receiving terminal 2A, it causes the laser diode 15 to emit light with a predetermined intensity as a downlink carrier. The output here does not need to have a meaning as data.

  Step B8: The portable receiving terminal 2A checks whether a downlink carrier from the terminal transmitter 3A has been detected. That is, since the laser diode 15 of the terminal transmitter 3A emits light, the laser light is incident on the photodetector 29 when the portable receiving terminal 2A is correctly attached to the terminal transmitter 3A.

  In the portable receiving terminal 2A, the system controller 30 of the portable receiving terminal 2A detects the presence or absence of a down carrier by detecting whether the laser beam is incident on the photodetector 29 by the laser sensor 33.

  Step B9: When the laser beam is not incident on the photodetector 29 and the downlink carrier cannot be detected, the system controller 30 of the portable receiving terminal 2A determines that the portable receiving terminal 2A is not correctly set in the terminal transmitter 3A. To finish the process.

  Step B10: When the system controller 30 of the mobile receiving terminal 2A detects the downlink carrier in Step B9, it determines that the mobile receiving terminal 2A is correctly set in the terminal transmitter 3A, and turns on the indicator 34 for a predetermined time, for example. Let the user know.

  Further, in the process of step B10, a message indicating that the device is correctly attached may be displayed on the display 43 configuring the external I / O 32.

  Step B11: The system controller 30 of the portable receiving terminal 2A checks whether the wireless communication unit 35 has received a connection confirmation signal from the wireless communication unit 20 of the terminal transmitter 3A.

  Step B12: When the wireless communication unit 35 has not received the connection confirmation signal from the terminal transmitter 3A, the system controller 30 of the mobile receiving terminal 2A determines that the uplink has not been established and ends the process. .

  Step B13: When the connection by the wireless communication unit 35 is established, the system controller 30 of the mobile receiving terminal 2A transmits the terminal number of the own device registered in advance in the memory 31 or the like via the wireless communication unit 35. Transmit to machine 3A. The terminal number is an example of identification information, and is a number unique to each mobile reception terminal 2A. The terminal transmitter 3A can identify the mobile reception terminal 2A.

  Step B14: The system controller 17 of the terminal transmitter 3A checks whether the terminal number notified from the portable receiving terminal 2A is registered in the distribution permission terminal number table 102 shown in FIG. To do.

  Step B15: If the terminal number notified from the mobile receiving terminal 2A is not registered in the distribution permission terminal number table 102, the process of step B16 is performed, and if it is registered, the process of step B17 is performed.

  Step B16: If the terminal number notified from the portable receiving terminal 2A is not registered in the distribution permission terminal number table 102, the system controller 17 of the terminal transmitter 3A displays, for example, on the display 46 constituting the external I / O 19 Then, a message indicating that the terminal number is not registered and distribution is not permitted is displayed as distribution permission information, and the process is terminated.

  Further, the terminal number is registered by using the communication function from the wireless communication unit 20 of the terminal transmitter 3A to the wireless communication unit 35 of the portable receiving terminal 2A or the communication function from the light emitting unit 11 to the light receiving unit 25. By notifying the mobile receiving terminal 2A of the information indicating that there is no information, it can be displayed on the display 43 of the mobile receiving terminal 2A that the terminal number is not registered.

  Step B17: When the terminal number notified from the portable receiving terminal 2A is registered in the distribution permission terminal number table 102 in the determination of step B15, the system controller 17 of the terminal transmitter 3A displays the distribution permission / inhibition information. A message 46 indicates that the terminal number is registered and distribution is permitted.

  Also in this case, the terminal number is registered by notifying the mobile receiving terminal 2A of the information that the terminal number is registered by using the communication function from the terminal transmitter 3A to the mobile receiving terminal 2A. It can also be displayed on the display 43 of the mobile receiving terminal 2A.

  Step B18: When the terminal number notified from the portable receiving terminal 2A is registered in the distribution permission terminal number table 102, the system controller 17 of the terminal transmitter 3A is registered in the distribution permission terminal number table 102. The data file specified by the data file name corresponding to the corresponding terminal number is transmitted.

  That is, the corresponding data file stored in the cache memory 12 is read by the bridge IC 13, converted from parallel data to serial data by the serializer 14, and an electric signal is converted into an optical signal by the laser diode 15 and transmitted.

  Step B19: The system controller 30 of the portable receiving terminal 2A stores the data file received from the terminal transmitter 3A in the cache memory 26. That is, the received optical signal is converted into an electrical signal by the photodetector 29, converted from serial data to parallel data by the deserializer 28, and stored in the cache memory 26 by the bridge IC 27.

  Step B20: The system controller 30 of the portable receiving terminal 2A checks whether the received data file is normal.

  Step B21: If the received data file is not normal, for example, the process returns to Step B18, and the transmission of the corresponding data file is repeated until it is normally received or until the detection switch 22 does not detect the mounting of the portable receiving terminal 2A. It is.

  Step B22: If the received data file is normal, the system controller 30 of the portable receiving terminal 2A ends the receiving process.

  In the above processing, when the portable receiving terminal 2A is attached to the terminal transmitter 3A designated in advance, the data file designated by the terminal number of the portable receiving terminal 2A is transmitted from the terminal transmitter 3A to the portable receiving terminal 2A, Received by the receiving terminal 2A. The data file stored in the cache memory 26 of the mobile receiving terminal 2A is displayed on the display 43, for example.

<Another configuration example of the data file update distribution center>
FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the data file update distribution center according to the second embodiment. Next, another configuration example of the data file update distribution center 4 will be described. In the data file update distribution center 4B shown in FIG. 10, the designation of the terminal transmitter 3A to receive content distribution can be specified by the preset property (attribute) of each terminal transmitter 3A in addition to the transmitter number. It is what I did.

  Here, in FIG. 10, the same components as those in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted here.

  The system controller 38 uses the indirect triplet management function 38b as a distribution management means, which is a function realized by executing a program, to specify a predetermined end transmitter 3A satisfying this property from the designation of a property such as a user. It decides and creates distribution management information, and performs control such as distribution to the corresponding terminal transmitter 3A together with the content data file.

Examples of the properties of the terminal transmitter 3A are as follows.
(1) Installation location name (2) Installation area name (3) Terminal transmitter model name (4) Terminal transmitter installation date and time (5) Service name divided by data file type (6) Data file size that can be handled Service name (7) Service name by transmission speed (8) Service name by additional function of end transmitter (9) Height of end transmitter The indirect triplet management function 38b of the system controller 38 is designated from these. The corresponding one or more terminal transmitters 3A are specified from the one or more properties.

  Therefore, a table in which each terminal transmitter is associated with its property is registered in advance in the data file update distribution center 4B.

  FIG. 11 shows an example of a table in which properties are associated with each terminal transmitter. In FIG. 11, the installation location, the installation area, and the model name are registered in association with each terminal transmitter 3A as attribute management information.

  For example, it can be seen that the terminal transmitter 3A having the transmitter number “KIOSK-545” is installed at JR Shinagawa Station as the installation location, is installed in Minato Ward as the installation area, and is A type as the model.

  The system controller 38 of the data file update distribution center 4B specifies the terminal transmitter 3A according to the property table 103 in FIG. Identify.

  FIG. 12 shows an example of distribution management information created by the indirect triplet management function 38b. FIG. 12 (a) shows an indirect triplet list, and FIG. 12 (b) shows a direct 3 extracted from the indirect triplet list. It is a tuple list.

  In the data file update distribution center 4B, when receiving designation of a terminal transmitter that is desired to receive content distribution from a user or the like, designation by a property such as an installation location is accepted.

  As a result, upon receiving a download request registration from the user or the like, the indirect triplet management function 38b first creates an indirect triplet list 104 shown in FIG. 12A as distribution management information.

  In the indirect triple list 104, the terminal number of the portable receiving terminal 2A notified from the user or the like is associated with the property of the terminal transmitter 3A and the data file name of the content. In the example of FIG. 12, an installation area or an installation location is used as a property for specifying the terminal transmitter 3A.

  Then, the indirect triplet management function 38b specifies the end transmitter 3A that actually distributes the content from the property table 103 shown in FIG. 11 and the indirect triplet list 104 in FIG. A direct triple list 105 of 12 (b) is created.

  For example, if a terminal transmitter that is installed in Minato City is designated as a terminal transmitter that wants to receive content distribution, the terminal transmitter of the transmitter number “KIOSK-545” is specified in the example of FIG. The

  When the terminal transmitter installed in Shinagawa Ward is designated, in the example of FIG. 11, the terminal transmitter having the transmitter number “KIOSK-546” and the terminal transmitter having the transmitter number “KIOSK-547” are used. Is identified. Thus, depending on the specified property, a plurality of end transmitters 3A may be specified.

  Furthermore, when the terminal transmitter installed at JR Gotanda Station is designated, the terminal transmitter having the transmitter number “KIOSK-547” is specified in the example of FIG.

  Then, the distribution permission table 102 for each terminal transmitter shown in FIG. 7B is created from the direct triple list 105 shown in FIG.

  In the above example, one property is specified, but a plurality of properties may be specified. In this case, the plurality of properties are synthesized by a logical operation such as “and” or “or”.

  For example, in the example of FIG. 11, it is possible to specify that “the installation area is Shinagawa-ku and the model is A type”. Alternatively, it can be specified that “the installation location is JR Shinagawa Station or JR Gotanda Station”.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the data file update distribution center according to the second embodiment. As described above, the process of specifying the terminal transmitter 3A from the property designation and distributing the content to the corresponding terminal transmitter 3A Will be described.

  Step C1: The user or the like of the mobile receiving terminal 2A uses the communication means such as the telephone or the Internet to the data file update distribution center 4B, and (a) the terminal number of his / her mobile receiving terminal 2A and (b (1) Notify the property information of the terminal transmitter 3A that wants to receive the content and (c) the name of the content to be received.

  Step C2: The system controller 38 of the data file update distribution center 4B checks whether or not the content update timing for the terminal transmitter 3A has been triggered. The content update opportunity is the same periodic timing as in the flowchart of FIG.

  Step C3: If there is no content update opportunity for the terminal transmitter 3A, the process returns to Step C1, and the system controller 38 of the data file update distribution center 4B continues the pre-registration from the user. When it becomes an update opportunity, the process of step C4 is performed.

  Step C4: If it is determined in step C3 that the content transmitter has been updated to the terminal transmitter 3A, the system controller 38 of the data file update distribution center 4B uses the indirect triplet management function 38b to execute FIG. 11 is extracted with reference to the property table 103 shown in FIG. 11 from the indirect triplet list 104 shown in FIG.

  Step C5: The system controller 38 of the data file update distribution center 4B creates the direct triple list 105 shown in FIG. 12B by the indirect triple management function 38b.

  Step C6: The system controller 38 of the data file distribution / update center 4B uses the indirect triplet management function 38b from the direct triplet list 105 shown in FIG. 12B to each terminal as shown in FIG. A distribution permission table 102 for each transmitter is created and distributed to a predetermined terminal transmitter 3A together with the corresponding data file.

  Note that the content distribution processing from the terminal transmitter 3A, the data file deletion processing, and the like in response to the download request from the portable receiving terminal 2A are as described above.

  As described above, since the terminal transmitter 3A that wants to receive content distribution can be specified by the property, the terminal transmitter that wants to receive content distribution can be specified without knowing the transmitter number of the terminal transmitter.

  Also, the service provider can distribute the content only in a limited area and can control the distribution of the content.

<Other configuration examples of content distribution system>
In the data file update distribution centers 4A and 4B, information indicating which data file is distributed to which terminal transmitter 3A is recorded in a triple list, a distribution permission terminal number table, or the like. By distributing these pieces of information to all the terminal transmitters 3A, each terminal transmitter 3A can recognize which data file can be distributed by the other terminal transmitters 3A.

  Thereby, for example, when the terminal number notified from the mobile receiving terminal 2A is not registered in the distribution permission terminal number table in step B16 of the flowchart of FIG. 9, it is displayed that the terminal number is not registered. At the same time, if a data file is designated, it is possible to guide which end transmitter 3A can receive the delivery.

  In this case, the terminal transmitter 3A to which the portable receiving terminal 2A is attached performs processing for associating the terminal number of the portable receiving terminal 2A with the data file name. The data file name can be specified by, for example, operating the mobile receiving terminal 2A or the terminal transmitter 3A.

  Then, by transmitting the information in which the terminal number and the data file name are associated with each other to the terminal transmitter 3A storing the corresponding content, if the portable receiving terminal 2A is attached to the terminal transmitter 3A, the desired content Can be received.

  Here, since the terminal transmitter 3A performs the process of associating the terminal number of the portable receiving terminal 2A with the data file name, each terminal transmitter 3A has the data file management distribution center 4A described in FIG. The direct triplet management function provided or the indirect triplet management function provided in the data file management distribution center 4B described with reference to FIG. 10 is provided. Moreover, the communication function which communicates between each terminal transmitter 3A is provided.

  As a result, the terminal number and the data file name are designated by the operation of the portable receiving terminal 2A, etc., and the distribution permission terminal number table is created from the triple list by a certain terminal transmitter 3A and the corresponding contents are stored. It can be transmitted to the other end transmitter 3A. Here, the content data file need not be stored in common in all terminal transmitters 3A.

  Alternatively, the terminal number and the data file name specified by the operation of the portable receiving terminal 2A in a certain terminal transmitter 3A are transmitted to the other terminal transmitter 3A storing the corresponding content, and this terminal transmitter 3A Thus, it is possible to create a distribution permission terminal number table from the triple list and permit distribution of contents to a specific mobile receiving terminal 2.

  As described above, by performing communication between the terminal transmitters 3A, it is possible to permit distribution of content to a specific mobile receiving terminal 2 without using the data file update distribution center 4A or the like.

  A terminal transmitter 3A receives a designation of a terminal number and a data file name by operating the portable receiving terminal 2A, etc., and notifies this information to the data file update distribution center 4A etc. to a specific portable receiving terminal 2 Content distribution may be permitted.

<Other configuration examples of the terminal transmitter and the portable receiving terminal>
In the above example, the downlink channel is realized by optical communication by spatial transmission using a laser, and the uplink channel is realized by wireless communication, but the downlink channel is realized by optical communication by spatial transmission using a laser, The uplink channel may be realized by another optical communication using infrared rays. Further, the downlink channel and the uplink channel may be realized by bidirectional optical communication by spatial transmission using a laser.

  Further, both the downlink channel and the uplink channel may be realized by wireless communication, or may be realized by wired communication using an electric cable or the like.

  Next, an example of a terminal transmitter and a portable receiving terminal that realize both the downlink channel and the uplink channel by wireless communication will be described.

  FIG. 14 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of a content distribution system according to the second embodiment. The terminal transmitter 3B constituting the content distribution system 1B according to the second embodiment includes a transmission unit that transmits a millimeter-wave charging wave such as 60 GHz. Further, the portable receiving terminal 2B includes a receiving unit that receives a millimeter wave charging wave and laser light emitting means for an index laser that allows the user to recognize whether or not the terminal is facing the terminal transmitter 3B.

  The millimeter wave is straight and can transmit a large amount of information. However, since the directivity is high, alignment between the transmission side and the reception side is important. In this example, assuming that the portable receiving terminal 2B is directed in the direction in which the index laser irradiates the terminal transmitter 3B, it is possible to receive the radio waves from the terminal transmitter 3B and distribute contents and the like with a simple configuration. Make it possible.

  FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the content distribution system according to the second embodiment, FIG. 16 is a partially broken perspective view showing a configuration example of the terminal transmitter, and then the terminal transmitter 3B and the portable receiving terminal 2B. A specific configuration example will be described.

  The terminal transmitter 3B is installed on a ceiling, a wall surface, a floor surface, or the like, and includes a transmission unit 51, a cache memory 52, a bridge IC 53, and a serializer 54. In addition, in FIG. 14, the example installed in the ceiling is shown.

  The transmission unit 51 is an example of a downlink transmission device and constitutes a first wireless communication unit. The transmission unit 51 includes an antenna that outputs a millimeter-wave charging wave such as a 60 GHz band.

  The cache memory 52 is an example of a so-called high-speed storage device, and includes a RAM or the like, and stores a data file of content output from the transmission unit 51.

  The bridge IC 53 reads the data file from the cache memory 52. In addition, the data file is written in the cache memory 52.

  The serializer 54 converts the data file read from the cache memory 52 by the bridge IC 53 from parallel data to serial data and sends the data file to the transmission unit 51.

  The terminal transmitter 3B includes a main storage device 56, a system controller 57, a memory 58, and an external I / O 59. The main storage device 56 is an example of a so-called low-speed storage device, and is composed of, for example, a hard disk drive device (HDD) and stores data files to be stored in the cache memory 52.

  The system controller 57 is composed of a CPU or the like, and determines whether or not the mobile receiving terminal 2B that requested the download is permitted for distribution, and outputs a predetermined data file stored in the cache memory 52 from the transmission unit 51. Take control.

  The memory 58 includes a RAM and a ROM, and stores programs executed by the system controller 57. The external I / O 59 is an example of input / output means, and is, for example, a display.

  Further, the terminal transmitter 3B includes a wireless communication unit 60 and a network communication unit 61. The wireless communication unit 60 is an example of an uplink receiving device and constitutes a second wireless communication unit. Since the wireless communication unit 60 communicates with the mobile receiving terminal 2B, it is only necessary to be able to perform near field communication. For example, use of Bluetooth or IEEE802.11 is conceivable.

  The network communication unit 61 is connected to the data file update distribution center 4A described with reference to FIG. 3 or the like via, for example, the Internet or a dedicated line, and communicates with the data file update distribution center 4A.

  The terminal transmitter 3B includes an index sensor 62, a visual light 63, and an indicator 64. The index sensor 62 is an example of a mounting detection unit, and is arranged adjacent to an antenna (not shown) of the transmission unit 51 as shown in FIG. The index sensor 62 is constituted by, for example, an optical sensor provided with a light receiving element.

  The visual light 63 is an example of a position confirmation unit, and is arranged adjacent to an antenna (not shown) of the transmission unit 51 as shown in FIG. Here, the terminal transmitter 3B includes a light guide 55 as shown in FIG. 16 in order to restrict the position where the light 63 for visual recognition can be seen within the radio wave receivable range.

  The light guide 55 is a conical or cylindrical cover, and when the terminal transmitter 3B is installed on the ceiling as shown in FIG. Will be visible.

  At a position where the user can visually recognize the light 63 for viewing, the mobile receiving terminal 2B is arranged at a predetermined position, so that a radio wave with high directivity from the transmitter 51 can be received. On the other hand, it can be recognized that the radio wave from the transmission unit 51 cannot be received at a position where the light 63 for viewing cannot be seen by the light guide 55.

  The indicator 64 is an example of a notification means, and is composed of a lamp such as a light emitting diode, for example, and notifies the user of the communication status, presence / absence of distribution permission, and the like.

  Here, when the index sensor 62 detects an index laser beam from a portable receiving terminal 2B, which will be described later, the lighting state of the visual light 63 may be changed. In this case, the light 63 for visual recognition becomes a notification means. Therefore, in this example, the viewing light 63 is configured to emit light of two different colors.

  Next, the configuration of the mobile receiving terminal 2B will be described. The portable receiving terminal 2B includes a receiving unit 65, a cache memory 66, a bridge IC 67, and a deserializer 68. The receiving unit 65 is an example of a downlink receiving device, and constitutes a first wireless communication unit paired with the transmitting unit 51. The receiving unit 65 includes an antenna or the like that receives a millimeter-wave charging wave such as a 60 GHz band.

  The cache memory 66 is an example of a high-speed storage device, and is composed of a RAM or the like, and stores a data file received from the terminal transmitter 3B. The bridge IC 67 writes the data file into the cache memory 66. Further, the data file is read from the cache memory 66.

  The deserializer 68 converts the data file received by the receiving unit 65 from serial data to parallel data and sends it to the bridge IC 67.

  The portable receiving terminal 2B includes a system controller 70, a memory 71, and an external I / O 72. The system controller 70 is constituted by a CPU or the like, and controls the storage of the data file received by the receiving unit 65 in the cache memory 66, the reading of the data file stored in the cache memory 66, and the like. The memory 71 includes a RAM and a ROM, and stores programs executed by the system controller 70. The external I / O 72 is an example of input / output means, and is, for example, a display.

  Further, the portable receiving terminal 2B includes an index laser 69, a radio wave sensor 73, and an indicator 74. The index laser 69 is an example of a position confirmation means, and irradiates a visible light laser or directional visible light.

  Here, when the index laser light irradiates the index sensor 62 of the terminal transmitter 3B, the arrangement of each unit is determined so that the receiving unit 65 can receive a radio wave from the transmitting unit 51 correctly. For this reason, for example, the antenna unit (not shown) of the receiving unit 65 and the laser beam emitted from the index laser 65 are arranged so as to be vertical.

  The radio wave sensor 73 is an example of a detection unit, and detects whether or not the radio wave is received by the receiving unit 65. The indicator 74 is an example of a notification means, and is composed of, for example, a lamp such as a light emitting diode, and notifies the user of the communication status, presence / absence of distribution permission, and the like.

  The mobile receiving terminal 2B includes a wireless communication unit 75. The wireless communication unit 75 is an example of an uplink transmission device, and forms a second wireless communication unit in a pair with the wireless communication unit 60 of the terminal transmitter 3B. The wireless communication unit 75 only needs to have the same communication function as the wireless communication unit 60. For example, the use of Bluetooth or IEEE802.11 is conceivable.

  The mobile reception terminal 2B may include a main storage device 76. The main storage device 76 is an example of a low-speed storage device, is configured with a hard disk drive device or the like, and stores data files stored in the cache memory 66.

  The main storage device 76 has a capacity larger than that of the cache memory 66, and the content data file distributed from the terminal transmitter 3B and stored in the cache memory 66 is moved to the main storage device 76 to be stored therein. Content can be saved in 2B.

  The outline | summary of operation | movement of the terminal transmitter 3B and the portable receiving terminal 2B is demonstrated. Note that the content distribution process to the terminal transmitter 3B is the same as the process described in FIG.

  First, the system controller 57 of the terminal transmitter 3B turns on the visual light 63 in red, for example.

  The user of the portable receiving terminal 2B moves to a position where the visual light 63 can be seen. As described above, the light guide 55 provided in the end transmitter 3B allows the user to visually observe the light 63 for viewing only when the user is not in a predetermined position with respect to the end transmitter 3B. Thereby, it is possible to recognize whether or not it is in a position where it can receive content distribution using the mobile reception terminal 2B.

  The user of the portable receiving terminal 2B adjusts the orientation of the portable receiving terminal 2B so that the terminal transmitter 3B can be irradiated with the laser light of the index laser 69 at a position where the visual light 63 can be seen.

  Since the laser beam of the index laser 69 is visible light, the user can easily adjust the mobile reception terminal 2B to a predetermined direction.

  When the index sensor 62 detects light, the system controller 57 of the terminal device 3B determines that the mobile reception terminal 2B is located in a radio wave receivable range, and switches the lighting color of the visual light 63 to, for example, green.

  As a result, the user can recognize that the mobile receiving terminal 2B is in a state where radio waves can be received.

  Further, when the portable receiving terminal 2B approaches the terminal transmitter 3B, communication between the wireless communication unit 60 of the terminal transmitting unit 3B and the wireless communication unit 75 of the portable receiving terminal 2B is performed, and the uplink from the portable receiving terminal 2B Then, the terminal number of the own device is notified to the terminal transmission unit 3B.

  Here, the terminal transmitter 3B distributes the distribution permission terminal number table and the content data body described in FIG. 7 from the data file update distribution center 4A in FIG. 3 and stores them in the cache memory 52 or the like.

  The system controller 57 checks whether or not the terminal number notified from the mobile receiving terminal 2B is registered in the distribution permission terminal number table described with reference to FIG.

  When the terminal number notified from the mobile receiving terminal 2B is registered in the distribution permission terminal number table, the data file of the corresponding content specified in the distribution permission terminal number table is output from the transmission unit 51.

  The data file output from the transmission unit 51 of the terminal transmitter 3B is received by the reception unit 65 of the mobile reception terminal 2B and stored in the cache memory 66 or the like.

  Thereby, content distribution is performed by wireless communication between the terminal transmitter 3B and the portable receiving terminal 2B. Instead of the wireless communication unit, the index laser 69 and the index sensor 62 may be used as uplink communication means.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is suitable for realizing a system in which an unspecified number of users own content reception devices, install content transmission devices on the streets, etc., and can deliver a large amount of content in a short time.

It is a block diagram which shows the outline | summary of the content delivery system of this Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the content delivery system of 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the data file update delivery center of 1st Embodiment. It is an external appearance perspective view which shows the structural example of a portable receiving terminal. It is an external appearance perspective view which shows the structural example of a terminal transmitter. It is a flowchart which shows the example of a process in a data file update delivery center. FIG. 7A shows an example of distribution management information. FIG. 7A is a direct triple list, and FIG. 7B is a distribution permission terminal number table for each terminal transmitter 3A. It is a flowchart which shows the example of a delivery process from a terminal transmitter to a portable receiving terminal. It is a flowchart which shows the example of a delivery process from a terminal transmitter to a portable receiving terminal. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the data file update delivery center of 2nd Embodiment. It is an example of the table which matched the property for every terminal transmitter. FIG. 12A shows an example of distribution management information created by the indirect triplet management function. FIG. 12A shows an indirect triplet list, and FIG. 12B shows a direct triplet list extracted from the indirect triplet list. is there. It is a flowchart which shows the example of a process in the data file update delivery center of 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the outline | summary of the content delivery system of 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the content delivery system of 2nd Embodiment. It is a partially broken perspective view which shows the structural example of a terminal transmitter.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Content delivery system, 2 ... Portable receiving terminal, 3 ... End transmitter, 4 ... Data file update delivery center, 11 ... Light emission part, 12 ... Cache memory, 13. ..Bridge IC, 14 ... serializer, 15 ... laser diode, 16 ... main memory, 17 ... system controller, 18 ... memory, 19 ... external I / O, 20. ..Wireless communication unit, 21 ... Network communication unit, 22 ... Detection switch, 24 ... Indicator, 25 ... Light receiving unit, 26 ... Cache memory, 27 ... Bridge IC, 28 ..Deserializer, 29 ... Photo detector, 30 ... System controller, 31 ... Memory, 32 ... External I / O, 33 ... Laser sensor, 34 ... Indicator 35 ... wireless communication unit 36 ... main storage device 37 ... main storage device 38 ... system controller 39 ... memory 41 ... external I / O 42. ..Network communication unit, 43 ... display, 44 ... operation unit, 45 ... mounting unit, 46 ... display

Claims (29)

In a content distribution system that distributes content from a server device to a plurality of content transmission devices, communicates between each content transmission device and a content reception device, and distributes the content.
The server device
At least at least content specifying information for specifying content to be distributed, transmitter information for specifying a content transmitting device to which the content is to be distributed, and identification information for specifying a content receiving device that is permitted to distribute the content Register to create delivery management information,
Distribution management for distributing at least the distribution permission information in which the content specifying information and the identification information are associated with each other and for each content transmitting device specified by the transmitter information registered in the distribution management information A content distribution system characterized by comprising means. Attribute management information for managing the attributes of each content transmission device is registered, and the distribution management means identifies one or a plurality of the content transmission devices that satisfy a specified condition, and creates the distribution management information. The content distribution system according to claim 1. The content transmitting device stores the distribution permission information distributed from the server device and the content to be distributed,
The content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein when the download request is received from the content receiving device specified by the distribution permission information, the content is distributed. The content receiving device notifies the content transmitting device of the identification information for identifying the device as a content download request,
The content distribution system according to claim 3, wherein the content transmission device distributes the content when the identification information received from the content reception device is registered in the distribution permission information. The content distribution system according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the content transmission device and the content reception device is provided with notification means for notifying a user of distribution availability information. 6. The content distribution system according to claim 5, wherein whether or not the content receiving terminal is permitted to distribute is notified from the presence or absence of the identification information registered in the distribution permission information as the distribution permission information. . Optical communication means for communicating from the content transmitting device to the content receiving device;
The content distribution system according to claim 3, further comprising: a wireless communication unit that performs communication from the content reception device to the content transmission device. The optical communication means includes a pair of light emitting means and light receiving means, and optical coupling means for detachably coupling the content transmitting apparatus and the content receiving apparatus by guiding the light emitting means and the light receiving means to a facing position. The content distribution system according to claim 7, further comprising: The content transmission device includes a wearing detection unit that detects whether or not the content receiving device is worn.
The content distribution system according to claim 8, wherein the content transmission device starts output processing of the light emitting unit when the mounting detection unit detects mounting of the content receiving device. The content receiving device includes a light detection means for detecting the presence or absence of light reception by the light receiving means,
The content distribution system according to claim 8, wherein the content reception device starts reception processing when light is detected by the light detection unit. First wireless communication means for communicating from the content transmitting device to the content receiving device;
The content distribution system according to claim 3, further comprising: a second wireless communication unit that performs communication from the content reception device to the content transmission device. Wireless communication means for communicating from the content transmitting device to the content receiving device;
The content distribution system according to claim 3, further comprising: an optical communication unit that performs communication from the content reception device to the content transmission device. The distribution management information is distributed to each content transmission device,
The content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein each of the content transmission devices includes a distribution information management unit that identifies content distributed to a content transmission device other than the content transmission device. The content distribution system according to claim 13, wherein the distribution information management unit generates the distribution permission information upon receiving notification of identification information of the content receiving device and content specifying information of the corresponding content. In a content distribution system for distributing content by communicating between a content transmission device and a content reception device,
The content transmission device distributes and registers distribution permission information associated with at least specified content specifying information for specifying content to be distributed and identification information for specifying a content receiving device for permitting distribution of the corresponding content. And
A content distribution system that distributes a corresponding content upon receiving a content download request from the content receiving device specified by the distribution permission information. The content receiving device notifies the content transmitting device of the identification information for identifying the device as a content download request,
The content distribution system according to claim 15, wherein the content transmission device distributes content when the identification information received from the content reception device is registered in the distribution permission information. Optical communication means for communicating from the content transmitting device to the content receiving device;
The content distribution system according to claim 15, further comprising: a wireless communication unit that performs communication from the content reception device to the content transmission device. The optical communication means includes a pair of light emitting means and light receiving means, and optical coupling means for detachably coupling the content transmitting apparatus and the content receiving apparatus by guiding the light emitting means and the light receiving means to a facing position. The content distribution system according to claim 17, further comprising: In a server device that distributes content to a plurality of content transmission devices,
At least at least content specifying information for specifying content to be distributed, transmitter information for specifying a content transmitting device to which the content is to be distributed, and identification information for specifying a content receiving device that is permitted to distribute the content Register to create delivery management information,
Distribution management that distributes at least the distribution permission information that associates the content identification information with the identification information, and the content body to be distributed, for each content transmission device specified by the transmitter information registered in the distribution management information A server device comprising means. Attribute management information for managing the attributes of each content transmission device is registered, and the distribution management means identifies one or a plurality of the content transmission devices that satisfy a specified condition, and creates the distribution management information. The server device according to claim 19. In a content transmission device that communicates with a content reception device and distributes content,
Content specifying information for specifying the content to be distributed, and distribution permission information associated with at least the identification information for specifying the content receiving device that permits the distribution of the corresponding content is distributed and registered,
A content transmitting device, wherein when a content download request is received from a content receiving device specified by the distribution permission information, the content is distributed. The content transmission apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising a notification unit configured to notify the user of distribution availability information. The content transmission apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising distribution information management means for specifying content distributed to a transmission apparatus other than the own apparatus. The content transmission apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the distribution information management means creates the distribution permission information upon receiving notification of identification information of the content receiving apparatus and content specifying information of the corresponding content. In a content receiving device that communicates with a content transmitting device and receives content,
As a content download request, identification information for identifying the device itself is notified to the content transmission device. 26. The content receiving apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising notification means for notifying a user of distribution availability information notified from the content transmitting apparatus. In a content distribution method of distributing content from a server device to a plurality of content transmission devices, communicating between each content transmission device and a content reception device, and distributing the content,
The server device specifies content specifying information for specifying a content to be distributed in advance, transmitter information for specifying a content transmitting device to which the content is to be distributed, and a content receiving device for which the distribution of the content is permitted Register at least the identification information to create distribution management information,
For each content transmission device specified by the transmitter information registered in the distribution management information, at least the distribution permission information in which the content specifying information and the identification information are associated with each other and the content main body to be distributed are distributed. A characteristic content distribution method. The content transmitting device stores the distribution permission information distributed from the server device and the content to be distributed,
28. The content distribution method according to claim 27, wherein when the download request is received from the content receiving device specified by the distribution permission information, the content is distributed. The content receiving device notifies the content transmitting device of the identification information for identifying the device as a content download request,
The content distribution method according to claim 27, wherein the content transmission device distributes the content when the identification information received from the content reception device is registered in the distribution permission information.

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